Abstract: The present invention relates to substrates and composites having dynamic, reversible micron-level luminal surface deformation including texture or geometric instabilities, e.g., surface wrinkling and folding. The surface deformation and its reversal to the original surface form or to another, different surface form, is effective to reduce or prevent surface fouling and, more particularly, in certain applications, to reduce or prevent unwanted platelet adhesion and thrombus formation. The substrates and composites include a wide variety of designs and, more particularly, biomedical-related designs, such as, synthetic vascular graft or patch designs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.

Abstract: Disclosed adjustable retaining arm systems can include a multi-segmented, articulable arm that holds one or more interchangeable tools and can be made relaxed to set a desired position and made rigid to fix the desired position by adjusting tension in a cable running through the arm. The arm can quickly attach and detach from a support structure. The support structure include a cable tensioning system, sensors, control system, power system, etc. A user input device, such as a foot pedal or button on the arm, can be used by a surgeon to change the arm between relaxed and rigid states. The arm and attachable tools can be detachable, disposable and/or sterilizable, while other system components can remain mounted in a fixed location as the arm is removed and replaced. The arm can hold multiple tools in any desired orientation around subject work location.

Abstract: Disclosed cannula systems can detect the tissue type within which the cannula tip is located in real time using electrodes adjacent the cannula tip. The sensing cannula system can differentiate when the cannula tip is in adipose tissue or muscle based on electrical impedance. The system can be used in fat grafting and liposuction procedures, for example. An operator can detect if the cannula tip enters muscle by watching for an indicator light or audible alarm that is automatically activated by the device based on a change in sensed impedance. The device may also stop the flow of fat through a pump halting injection into the sub-muscular space.

Abstract: Disclosed are wearable devices, such as rings and bracelets, for monitoring and diagnosing cardiovascular conditions of a wearer, along with related systems, algorithms and methods. The disclosed wearable devices can continuously monitor the wearer's cardiovascular status by measuring heart rate, motion, blood oxygenation, and/or other properties of the wearer. Disclosed wearable devices can further comprise three EKG electrodes, including a first electrode on the inner surface adapted to detect a signal from the finger/wrist, a second electrode on the outer surface adapted to detect a cardiovascular signal from a finger of the opposing hand, and a third electrode on the outer surface of the frame adapted to detect a cardiovascular signal from a EKG lead location on the wearer's chest or leg. The wearable devices can be linked wirelessly to a mobile device that the person can interact with, and can further be linked to other distributed system components and healthcare providers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a functionalized microbubble designed for treating and/or preventing vascular obstructions, including microvascular obstructions. The functionalized microbubble embodiments comprise a microbubble that can be activated upon exposure to ultrasound and further that has a lipid-based shell that is attached to an exteriorly-attached therapeutically active agent, such as a thrombolytic agent. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making and using the functionalized microbubble embodiments.

Abstract: A method for processing healthcare information includes: receiving information related to a patient and a plurality of providers involved with caring for the patient; using the information to generate patient centered provider graphs that describe relationships among the patient and the plurality of providers and include an indication of provider availability within a clinical situation; and presenting the graphs to a plurality of uses. An apparatus that is used to practice the method is also provided.

Abstract: An improved method of treating depression in a person can be generally said to include applying to a body area of the person a therapeutic stimulation device having a tactile transducer that is positioned proximate the body area, and emitting with the tactile transducer a vibrational output toward the body area. A therapeutic stimulation device and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing healthcare information includes: receiving information related to a patient and a plurality of providers involved with caring for the patient; using the information to generate patient centered provider graphs that describe relationships among the patient and the plurality of providers and include an indication of provider availability within a clinical situation; and presenting the graphs to a plurality of uses. An apparatus that is used to practice the method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable enantiomers, salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the compounds of Formula (I) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing compounds of Formula (I).

Abstract: A peripheral device for regulating neural correlates of arousal and emotion regulation to be worn or held against the body is disclosed. The device can be triggered by either physiological signs or manual intervention and produces cutaneous signals such as vibration or electricity using novel combinations of physiologically reactive frequencies without effort on the part of the user. One embodiment includes combining sensors that measure changes in physiological signals of stress such as speech rate and pitch, galvanic skin response, or heart rate variability, and, using a machine learning algorithm on personalized data, can determine whether these changes are likely to benefit from regulation. If they are outside an idiosyncratic predetermined range, the device produces stimulation and the person will feel regulated if they are touching/wearing the device, or can choose to use the device if it is not currently being touched or worn.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining a prognosis of a test patient following or during a surgical procedure. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods comprise forming a test data vector characterizing concurrent measures of mean arterial pressure (MAP), bispectral index (BIS), and standard minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of the test patient from sequential time intervals during the surgical procedure. A K-means clustering procedure is performed on the test data vector and a plurality of reference data vectors characterizing concurrent MAP, BIS, and MAC measures for sequential time intervals during surgical procedures from reference patients with known clinical outcome. A prognosis of one or more post-surgical outcomes of the test patient is determined based on the known surgical outcome of reference patients in the cluster including the test data vector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a functional derivative of a Photoactive Yellow Protein (PYP), or a functional fragment thereof, for fluorescently labelling particles, e.g. proteins, or surfaces, which is capable of binding reversibly a fluorogenic chromophore of formula (I), and which is capable of enhancing the brightness of the fluorogenic chromophore upon complexation thereto; and of inducing the spectral shift of the fluorogenic chromophore through the ionization of an auxochromic group thereof.

Abstract: A new and/or novel image analysis technique for quantitative assessment of motion-based testing for injury in a patient using universally available and affordable devices and techniques is provided and disclosed. A video of a test being performed can be processed to track the motion of markers and/or bodily landmarks in two or more dimensions to quantitatively describe motion, thereby removing the subjective aspects typically associated with motion-based testing. In an example, the pivot shift test is a commonly used test for evaluating rotational instability of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee. The pivot shift test's subjective grading scale can be quantified and refined using image analysis techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed are wearable devices, such as rings and bracelets, for monitoring and diagnosing cardiovascular conditions of a wearer, along with related systems, algorithms and methods. The disclosed wearable devices can continuously monitor the wearer's cardiovascular status by measuring heart rate, motion, blood oxygenation, and/or other properties of the wearer. Disclosed wearable devices can further comprise three EKG electrodes, including a first electrode on the inner surface adapted to detect a signal from the finger/wrist, a second electrode on the outer surface adapted to detect a cardiovascular signal from a finger of the opposing hand, and a third electrode on the outer surface of the frame adapted to detect a cardiovascular signal from a EKG lead location on the wearer's chest or leg. The wearable devices can be linked wirelessly to a mobile device that the person can interact with, and can further be linked to other distributed system components and healthcare providers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the survival time of a patient suffering from myocardial infarction or the recurrence of a myocardial infarction. The method comprises the steps of i) determining the expression level of BAFF in a sample from the patient, ii) comparing the expression level with a predetermined reference value and iii) providing a good prognosis of the survival time or a low risk of the recurrence of a myocardial infarction when the expression level is lower than the predetermined reference value and a poor prognosis of the survival time or a high risk of the recurrence of a myocardial infarction when the expression level is higher than the predetermined reference value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fluoroquinolones, pharmaceutical compositions or medicament containing them and use thereof to treat bacterial infection.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a computer system programmed to retrieve information from a plurality of data sources; the computer system including a plurality of vault query services; an adapter for each of the data sources, each adapter translating an interface for one of the data sources to a vault query service interface; and a cross-vault query service providing an interface for data communication between an application program and the plurality of vault query services; and a user display for displaying the information retrieved from the data sources in response to a query from the application program.

Abstract: A robotic strong arm (RSA) for assisting in the transfer of a person from a first surface to a second surface, comprising: first and second members, wherein in each member comprises a prismatic joint having first and second ends and comprising inner and outer shells and a motor for powered linear movement of the outer shell with respect to the inner shell; a first powered joint interconnecting the second end of the first member with the first end of the second member, wherein the first powered joint provides movement of the second member with respect to the first member; wherein the first end of the first member is attached to a rotatable base and wherein the rotatable base is movably attached for powered movement along a component associated with, and extending around at least a portion of a periphery about, the first surface; and a computer controller for controlling movements of the outer shells, first powered joint, rotation of the rotatable base and movement of the rotatable base and RSA along the compon

Abstract: A method for processing healthcare information includes: receiving information related to a patient and a plurality of providers involved with caring for the patient; using the information to generate patient centered provider graphs that describe relationships among the patient and the plurality of providers and include an indication of provider availability within a clinical situation; and presenting the graphs to a plurality of uses. An apparatus that is used to practice the method is also provided.